Guzman leaves game with leg injury

Ronald Guzman got his first major league start in left field today for the Texas Rangers, but his day was cut short when he pulled up pursuing a pop fly due to an apparent leg injury. Guzman was taken off the field in a wheelchair and replaced by Eli White.

With Nate Lowe taking over as the regular first baseman, Guzman had been asked to work in the corner outfield spots to improve his versatility. David Dahl is the DH today due to a leg issue, so Guzman got the nod in left. It appears likely he will now be injured list bound.

This presents difficulties for the Rangers from a roster management standpoint. The team was already working with just a three man bench. Assuming Guzman goes on the injured list, the team will need to add a position player to the roster, but there’s not a viable option on the 40 man right now. Per Evan Grant, the taxi squad guys in Tampa who are position players are Adolis Garcia, Andy Ibanez and Drew Butera. Any of the three would need to be added to the 40 man roster.

Garcia would seem most likely to get the nod, with Matt Bush moving to the 60 day injured list to create a 40 man roster spot for him. Willie Calhoun is due back in a few days, at which point Garcia could be sent back down, or a pitcher could go, allowing the Rangers to keep a 4 man bench.

UPDATE — Guzman is having his right knee evaluated. Given the reaction the concern has to be he tore his ACL.